"Prepared foods/deli is an area that's growing, and one we look to expand in," Cargill Protein's Scott Vinson said on the show floor June 2, the first day of the three-day conference.

And within deli, said the company's Katie Blick-White, grab-and-go, snacking and entertaining are among the strongest category performers. Cargill Protein's new antipasta tray is "a little different" from the competition, Vinson said. For instance, only authentic Italian meats that have been long-cured at low temperatures are used. The 12 oz Castle Wood Reserve-branded trays feature Genoa and Sopressata Salami, Parmesan and Frescatrano olives.

The new Turkey Dippers, meanwhile, are 3.75 oz packs that pair high-end turkey pieces with spinach dip, roasted garlic hummus or guacamole. Set to begin shipping in the fall, Vinson said Cargill Protein knows of no other product on the market like them. The product will ship under the Honeysuckle White and Shady Brook Farms brands.

The products meet increasing consumer demand for snacks that combine sweet and savory flavors, Blick-White said. Also new from Cargill Protein are bulk packs of sliced meats that retailers can repack for their deli grab-and-go cases, Vinson said. The program, designed to save retailers the time it takes to cut meats in-house, will focus on "heavy movers" like honey ham, black forest ham, oven-roasted turkey and roast beef, Vinson said.